Serendipity and a trip into my childhood memories of Hunstanton

I was walking past a little bric a brac shop at the end of the street the other day and was stopped in my tracks.  I spotted the little dish in the window and was convinced it was the pattern I remembered from a house in Hunstanton which belonged to my Great Aunt Margie and which we stayed in every year (usually off season!). 

 I bought the little dish and have since found out it was made by Midwinter around the 1930s - 1940s and is stamped with 'Brama' on the base.  I always asked to have the plate as I just loved the lady in her crinoline in the garden and the gold pattern.  Since then, I have seen many similar looking patterns but was never sure they were right.
The house we stayed in was at Hunstanton in Norfolk and was 28, Victoria Avenue.  I loved going there as you never knew what you would find.  The house was often rented out to friends and relatives and sometimes had other less than welcome visitors, who took advantage of it being occasionally empty.  Often, on arrival, Mum would have to spend some time sorting the toilet out.  One year, there was a big hole just inside the door and we all had to jump over it to get in.
It was a magical place to me though, with old metal spring mattresses which would attempt to throw you off the beds if you sat down too heavily.  There were two cane chairs with wooden poles which you could move into slots to adjust the angle of the back.  There were huge prints of coronations or parliament gatherings and pictures of John the Baptist.  There was a little ornament of the three carved monkeys, 'Hear, See and Speak no evil'.  There were some books that I remember - Howdy Doody with Princess SummerFallWinterSpring and one called 'Horace, the little black pig'.  There was a toaster (probably from the 1930s), which had sides that let down to place the bread in and then were put back up to toast.

Of course, Hunstanton itself was a wonderful place for a child.  At that time, at the end of the promenade, there was a fair with a proper Helter Skelter (removed in 2000 and according to the internet, renovated and available to hire) and my favourite Gallopers.  There was a lovely beach, striped cliffs,  crazy golf, roller skating rink, ice cream booths, cream cakes, knickerbocker glories and fish and chips.  There were two playgrounds, one with the 'Life on the Ocean Wave/Witches' Hat' ride, long since banned due to Health and Safety. There was a shop called Guise Brothers which sold buckets and spades, flip flops, nets, rock, and lots of other things necessary to a seaside holiday. There is a Green and we used to enjoy eating fish and chips while watching the sun go down.

We went back to Hunstanton in 2007 and found 28, Victoria Avenue.  It was looking rather better than it had done.  We were always told that HG Wells had lived there, but we were not convinced about that.  Why would he have lived here?  However, it was true - well, he certainly must have visited here.

The house is now included on a trail and has its own plaque!  (I did ask the owner's permission to take the photos, but I expect the owner is used to people stopping and and photographing now).  So, after all this time, finding the little dish with the pattern I remember has brought back many happy memories of many happy times at Hunstanton.